K2 at K Station, 365 N Halsted St, Fulton River District

by Joe Zekas on 9/4/13

Construction of K2 at K Station, a 496-unit 34-story luxury apartment tower at 365 N Halsted St in Chicago’s Fulton River District, began in the fall of 2011 and the building opened for occupancy in April of 2013.

The apartments

Units have a high level of finishes, including nine-foot ceilings, large expanses of windows, stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, plank flooring and in-unit washer / dryers. One-bedroom and larger units have balconies.

The building’s unusual “triple-blade” design and length enabled very efficient floor plans with six corner units per floor and natural light in the elevator corridors.

Views. K2′s siting on an east-west axis and the openness of its immediate surroundings provide outstanding skyline views to the north, south and east.

Amenities, services, policies

The extensive common-area amenities are all located on the entry level of K2.

There are two large lounge and party areas with flat-panel TVs, a pool table, a fireplace and service kitchens.

The lounge areas open to a spacious outdoor deck with skyline views and a 70-foot lap pool with four full-sized swimming lanes. The pool deck also features a gas fire pit, pool cabanas and stainless-steel grills.

K2’s amenities also include a business center with a separate conference room, and a stadium-style theater room with a 120-inch projection television system and surround sound.

There is a “state-of-the-art” fitness facility with men’s and women’s locker rooms, steam rooms, showers, a massage room, and a dual-purpose room that doubles as a yoga and basketball court.

Bicycle storage was a top priority in the design of K2 due to the building’s proximity to existing and future protected bike lanes. K2 offers bicycle commuters an ingress / egress point on Kinzie Street that has storage for 200 bicycles in its three-story, 348-space parking garage. The bike storage has direct access to the recently-completed Kinzie protected bike lane.

K2 has on-site leasing and management staff and 24/7 door staff. One unusual aspect of the building’s services is the number of events hosted on- and off-site that enable residents to meet one another and learn about their neighborhood.

The building is pet-friendly and smoke-free. K2′s dog run is the largest in the city.

Location

K2′s west-of-the-river location is easily misunderstood: it’s far more convenient and lively than is apparent from a superficial look.

K2 is the first Fulton River District high-rise with direct access to a major north-south thoroughfare, connecting with Halsted St (800 W) at the bridge level and Kinzie St (400 N) at ground-level. The keystone location affords residents quick access to River North, River West and the West Loop.

Shopping
K2 is directly adjacent to a new, heavily-reviewed Jewel-Osco in a strip center that also has a Radio Shack, a Pet Stuff, a Chase bank branch, a Hair Cuttery, a cleaners and a nail salon. A pedestrian bridge connects K2′s amenities level to the Jewel and strip center.

Parks, recreationFulton River Park, which has a dog run, a playground and a shaded area, is a block east of K2 and a neighborhood gathering spot. Movies in the Parks draw a crowd on summer nights.

Transportation. K2 has good access to public transportation. It’s just two short blocks from the CTA’s Grand Ave Blue Line station, which is also served by four CTA bus lines. The Blue Line provides direct access to O’Hare Airport and west-suburban Oak Park and Forest Park.

The competition

You might also consider condos for rent in Fulton River District and West Loop buildings – they’re occasionally available at sharply lower rents than you’ll find in the rental buildings, in part because they don’t offer comparable amenities packages.